(VOVworld) – France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has begun military operations against the Islamic State in Iraq as part of the US-led military campaign, a Defence Ministry official said Monday.

France’s flagship Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier makes it way through the Mediterranean Sea while on mission March 26, 2011. (Photo: Reuters)

The source, an aide accompanying Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who will make an official announcement about the carrier, said a Rafale fighter jet took off Monday morning from the carrier as it sailed 200 kilometres north of Bahrain in the direction of Iraq.